Au-pair Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez (26) and her employer, David Kimowitz (40) were stabbed to death after she broke off a relationship with her boyfriend

If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez (26) and David Kimowitz (40) were killed by Joseph Porter (27)

Suspect arrested in murders of man, nanny found dead at suburban New Jersey home
Sunday, August 4, 2019 11:20AM
MAPLEWOOD, New Jersey (WABC) -- Police have made an arrest in the killings of a man and a live-in nanny who worked with his family in New Jersey.

26-year-old Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez of Maplewood, was found lying in the street on Walton Road near Jefferson Avenue in Maplewood around 6:00 a.m. Saturday, after police responded to a report of a woman being assaulted.

She was pronounced dead at Beth Israel Medical Center.

Officers then found the body of 40-year-old David Kimowitz of Maplewood inside a home nearby.

After an investigation by the Essex County Prosecutor's Homicide Task Force and the Maplewood Police Department, 27-year-old Joseph Porter was charged in connection with the deaths.

Authorities said he had been dating Bermudez-Rodriguez, who was employed as an au pair for the Kimowitz family,

Porter is charged with two counts of murder, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and criminal restraint. He is being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility.

Au-pair Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez (26) and her employer, David Kimowitz (40) were stabbed to death after she broke off a relationship with her boyfriend

Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez sent her boyfriend a text about 2 a.m. last weekend, breaking up with him and demanding he return the key to her employer's house in a New Jersey suburb.

Her boyfriend responded immediately, saying he was upset about the end of their relationship, authorities said. About three hours later, Bermudez-Rodriguez, 26, was found fatally stabbed on a street in Maplewood. Her hands were bound by tape.

In a home near where she was found, David Kimowitz, 40, who owns a comedy venue in Manhattan, was also found dead with multiple stab wounds. Bermudez-Rodriguez worked for Kimowitz and his wife as a nanny to their two children, according to the criminal complaint.

Prosecutors allege the nanny's boyfriend, Joseph D. Porter, entered the Kimowitz home on August 3 using her key.

Inside, he tied his girlfriend's hands and stabbed her employer, according to a criminal complaint. She managed to escape and ran down the street, where the suspect chased her down and attacked her with a knife, it says. Kimowitz's wife and two children were not home, CNN affiliate NY1 reported.

Porter, 27, was arrested at the Newark Liberty International Airport later that morning as he tried to fly to Cancun, Mexico, according to court documents.

Investigators said they recovered video at the scene that showed a man chasing Bermudez-Rodriguez down the street. They also reviewed text messages from her phone, which showed she'd asked for the home key back and he was upset about the breakup, according to authorities.

During her boyfriend's arrest, investigators noticed visible marks and scratches around his neck, according to court records.

He was arrested and charged with two counts of murder. It's unclear whether he has entered a plea. His public defender declined to comment when reached by CNN.

The family of a Manhattan comedy club owner stabbed to death in his tony suburban home didn?t know his alleged killer ? their au pair?s brooding ex-boyfriend ? had a key to their house, they told The Post.

Karen Lorena Bermudez Rodriguez was allegedly killed by her boyfriend Joseph D. Porter, who is pictured with her in a Facebook photo.Karen Lorena Bermudez Rodriguez was allegedly killed by her boyfriend Joseph D. Porter, who is pictured with her in a Facebook photo.Facebook

Nanny Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez ?never disclosed to the family that there was a conflict between her and (ex-boyfriend) Joseph Porter,? a friend of the family of club owner David Kimowitz told The Post.

?The Kimowitz family was unaware that Joseph Porter had a key,? the friend said. ?Karen was aware he had a key and asked him to give it back.?

Kimowitz?s wife and two young daughters were away for the weekend and were not in the home when the attack took place.

A 20-year-old jogger saw the bloodied nanny in front of the house and called police, fraught 911 calls obtained by The Post show. She was pronounced dead within the hour at a local hospital.

The New York City comedy club co-owner who was killed alongside his family’s au pair was remembered ahead of his funeral as a “source of light” who positively impacted every life he touched.

The death of 40-year-old David Kimowitz, who was a part owner of The Stand Comedy Club and Restaurant in Manhattan, has devastated his family, which includes wife Laura and two young daughters.

“Our hearts are broken over the loss of David, a one of a kind husband, father, son and brother. He loved his wife Laura and his daughters with all his heart and without limit,” a family spokesperson said in a statement to PEOPLE. “He carried a deep love for the entire Kimowitz family. He devoted his life to family, friends and spreading laughter and comedy to the masses. He overdelivered on all accounts.”

The statement, which describes Kimowitz as a “source of light,” continued, “We truly appreciate all the overwhelming support, kind words and memories that our friends and communities have shared with us. He meant so much to us all, and we all love him and miss him always. We appreciate the way the media has captured David’s life and legacy. However, at this difficult time, we ask members of the press to respect our family’s privacy so that we may have the time to process and mourn the loss of David’s beautiful life.”

Kimowitz was found unresponsive in a home in Maplewood, N.J. Saturday morning, and was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Karen Bermudez-Rodriguez, the family’s 26-year-old au pair, was also found lying critically injured in a nearby street. She was taken to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, and died of her injuries just over an hour later, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said.

Her boyfriend Joseph Porter, 27, was charged with two counts of murder, possession of a weapon, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose and criminal restraint.

According to a family member, Bermudez-Rodriguez never told the Kimowitz family of any conflicts in her relationship with Porter.

A family friend told NJ.com that Bermudez-Rodriguez began working for the Kimowitz family more than a year ago, and had come to the U.S. from Colombia to learn English.

Kimowitz, whose funeral is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in New Jersey, was also fondly remembered by his business partners Cris Italia, Paul Italia and Patrick Milligan, with whom he opened The Stand in 2012.

Following his death, his family has established The David Kimowitz Memorial Fund in his memory, and encourages those looking to donate to use Venmo @thedavidkimowitzmemorialfund or Zelle, thedavidkimowitzmemorialfund@gmail.com.

You have to pay those fees on the shipping on both ends (shipping and receiving) and then pay for the funeral, and then I am guessing she was sending money back to her family, and her death is going to be huge loss for them in that manner too.

You have to pay those fees on the shipping on both ends (shipping and receiving) and then pay for the funeral, and then I am guessing she was sending money back to her family, and her death is going to be huge loss for them in that manner too.

Yes it's a bad loss for her and her family. I just never agreed with "someone died, send us money". I would never ever do that, even if I had zero dollars in the bank, I would never beg for money. Seems like it's the thing to do these days, minutes after someone dies the begging starts.

Yes it's a bad loss for her and her family. I just never agreed with "someone died, send us money". I would never ever do that, even if I had zero dollars in the bank, I would never beg for money. Seems like it's the thing to do these days, minutes after someone dies the begging starts.

I totally agree, that is what insurance and savings are for. No one seems to have an emergency fund or insurance these days. It's bad. No one takes care of themselves anymore.

But I was just answering your original question about why they might be asking for that much money.

Yes it's a bad loss for her and her family. I just never agreed with "someone died, send us money". I would never ever do that, even if I had zero dollars in the bank, I would never beg for money. Seems like it's the thing to do these days, minutes after someone dies the begging starts.

Why does HIS opinion matter to YOU? We all have opinions, no one should really care that much what someone else on this board thinks. As I said earlier, my opinion is probably closer to yours on this matter, (god help me), but that doesn't really matter either.

If people are willingly giving money, how is that taking advantage of them?

Possessions could have been sold, loans could have been taken, use own money, etc etc. But now people don't do that, people are quick to beg for money from others who they know will give bcz they are caring/willing. That, is taking advantage! Someone died and these people asked for $35,000!

When I had cancer and couldn't work bills piled up, shit was getting shut off etc etc. I had people telling me to do go fund me, I told them to fuck off for even suggesting it. I had family and friends offer me financial help, I told them no. I sold some jewelry and a few guns and a few other things to get the money I needed to pay my bills and survive. I could not and would not beg for money or take advantage of those who would be willing to give. This is how to do it, make sense now?

Possessions could have been sold, loans could have been taken, use own money, etc etc. But now people don't do that, people are quick to beg for money from others who they know will give bcz they are caring/willing. That, is taking advantage! Someone died and these people asked for $35,000!

When I had cancer and couldn't work bills piled up, shit was getting shut off etc etc. I had people telling me to do go fund me, I told them to fuck off for even suggesting it. I had family and friends offer me financial help, I told them no. I sold some jewelry and a few guns and a few other things to get the money I needed to pay my bills and survive. I could not and would not beg for money or take advantage of those who would be willing to give. This is how to do it, make sense now?

Good for you. Not everyone has that option.

There are some gofundme's that are ridiculous, so I just don't donate to those. This is how to do it, make sense now?

Originally Posted by marakisses

yes i said i will leave it under you storage he said cuddle with me i said shut up it over??? what am i doing wrong??

Possessions could have been sold, loans could have been taken, use own money, etc etc. But now people don't do that, people are quick to beg for money from others who they know will give bcz they are caring/willing. That, is taking advantage! Someone died and these people asked for $35,000!

When I had cancer and couldn't work bills piled up, shit was getting shut off etc etc. I had people telling me to do go fund me, I told them to fuck off for even suggesting it. I had family and friends offer me financial help, I told them no. I sold some jewelry and a few guns and a few other things to get the money I needed to pay my bills and survive. I could not and would not beg for money or take advantage of those who would be willing to give. This is how to do it, make sense now?

Well clearly, not everyone can be the flawless example of a human being that you are.

Possessions could have been sold, loans could have been taken, use own money, etc etc. But now people don't do that, people are quick to beg for money from others who they know will give bcz they are caring/willing. That, is taking advantage! Someone died and these people asked for $35,000!

When I had cancer and couldn't work bills piled up, shit was getting shut off etc etc. I had people telling me to do go fund me, I told them to fuck off for even suggesting it. I had family and friends offer me financial help, I told them no. I sold some jewelry and a few guns and a few other things to get the money I needed to pay my bills and survive. I could not and would not beg for money or take advantage of those who would be willing to give. This is how to do it, make sense now?

It makes sense that someone completely lacking in empathy can't comprehend that managing a sell-off of belongings while in the throes of grief might be an impossibility for some people.

That said, I'd never ask, I'd starve to fucking death first, but I'll never begrudge anyone who is able to bring themselves to do it

It makes sense that someone completely lacking in empathy can't comprehend that managing a sell-off of belongings while in the throes of grief might be an impossibility for some people.

That said, I'd never ask, I'd starve to fucking death first, but I'll never begrudge anyone who is able to bring themselves to do it

You're right, in the throes of grief it would be impossible for someone to manage a sell-off of belongings to get the cash they need. In the throes of grief it's very manageable and super easy to logon to a computer type up a long story about someone who died then add to the story why everyone should click the donate button. Super easy even during the throes of grief.

You're right, in the throes of grief it would be impossible for someone to manage a sell-off of belongings to get the cash they need. In the throes of grief it's very manageable and super easy to logon to a computer type up a long story about someone who died then add to the story why everyone should click the donate button. Super easy even during the throes of grief.